Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Malta Comics Expo Recap

Malta 3D Printing would like to take a
special moment in its blogging history to share our terrific experience
at the local Comics Expo that blew us away between the 31st October and
2nd November. Jam-packed with interesting vendors, panels with celebrity
guests, gaming competitions and artists displaying their work, this
event symbolized pop culture at its finest.

Taking centre stage in the main hallway at the Mediterranean Conference Centre,
our stand attracted countless curious expo guests. The mechanical sounds of our
printers churning away were drowned out by the expo’s array of
interesting noises – whether the host was announcing the arrival of Bane, or
Paul Eiding was shouting out “SNAAAKE!” at the top of his lungs.

Our stand was flanked by two stalls which captured the essence of the event - a
graphic novel and comic book stall to our left and right respectively. On the
opening day, the celebrities were stationed right in front of us, and only a
stone's throw away from our printers, one could find a splendid collection of
vintage automobiles.

These included the A-Team van, KITT from Knightrider and Starsky and Hutch's
Gran Torino, amongst others.

Our
three-man team met a number of different, interesting people from all walks of
life - artists, cosplayers and comic book fans from America, France, Italy and
beyond. Participants did not take the cosplay competition lightly - one
cosplayer claimed to have spent 900 euros on his Assassin’s Creed outfit! Jack Sparrow and Catwoman were the weekend's odd couple, while Batman costumes seemed to be the most popular.

We were elated to receive positive feedback during and after the event, and
interest in our merchandise did not wane throughout the weekend.

People
particularly appreciated the level of detail in our products, from the finely chiseled chin on Batman’s face to the intricacy of our Terminator T-800 Exoskull. Most people seemed to be taken aback, amazed at 3D printing technology in
general.

Attendees loved our Wolverine claws and Dr.Doom mask. Our Hell Boy gun was
pointed at many a head, and Adventure Time sword carried around with pride.
Other fan favourites included our Portal book ends, Batman bust and of course,
the translucent Pokemon.

To
highlight 3D printing's ability to provide quick, on-demand products, we
conducted live printing sessions, pumping out business card holders for ourselves
and nearby vendors, who appreciated our kind gesture.

As friendly lightsaber battles raged on in front of our stand, we continued to
produce and sell items including a glow-in-the-dark gyroscope and a
hidden-blade from the Assassin's Creed franchise.

A Few of Our Finest Products On Display
Image from Capture Me Photography

While
this technology may have been around for decades, most people have never seen a
3D printer in action. After getting an eyeful, most did not hesitate to
inquire, and we happily discussed the basic principles as well as the technical
aspects.

The majority
of people were unfamiliar with printing procedures, so we elaborated on the
process of creating a three-dimensional shape from a 3D file. Others were
curious as to what materials are most commonly used (PLA, ABS, Rubber etc.),
and how long the average product takes to be printed.

Hordes of
people lined up to attempt our challenging cube puzzle, but surprisingly, less
than a dozen managed to complete it.

A
highlight of the weekend was being fortunate enough to spend some time with the
down-to-earth celebrities that attended. As a token of appreciation for the
countless hours of entertainment they’ve provided us with over the years, we
donated some 3D printed products to them.

Things
came full circle for ex-Star Trek star Robert Picardo. He may be used to the
'Replicator' device, dreamt up by inspirational Star Trek writers, but our 3D
printers are the real deal. We gave the doctor his first dose of 3D printing.
He left with a big smile on his face and glow-in-the-dark letters spelling out
'N-E-R-D'.

Joseph
Gatt, the God
of War and Game of Thrones star received a free door-stop in the shape of a
slice of cheese, courtesy of Malta 3D Printing. Popular voice-actor Paul Eiding (voice actor for Metal Gear
Solid & Ben 10, etc.) was kind enough to sign two 'Fox Hound' badges printed
on the spot, and even took another home as a souvenir.